LaSES researchers collecting zooplankton at Coeur d'Alene Lake. Photo: Frank Wilhelm, LaSES.
Impact/Benefits
- Couer d'Alene is one of Idaho's largest cities, built around tourism at one of the state's most important lakes. Understanding the pressures on the lake and potential interactions between industry, development, agriculture, and other land use practices is crucial to sustaining and growing the regional economy.
- The LaSES Lab will further ongoing research on lake water quality. The Lab's research facilities allow scientists to study lakes in real time, providing information to compare actual water quality to computer-generated predictions of water quality.
- The LaSES Lab furthers collaboration with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, businesses, and other regional stakeholders, both those that depend on the health of lakes and those whose industries or activities may impact lakes.
Outcome
The Lake Social Ecological System (LaSES) Laboratory, at the University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene campus, was recently established and equipped with a new dock, research vessel, and full bench laboratory to support research on the ecologically diverse and economically vital lakes of northern Idaho.